Binder for tablets.



D. A. MIDDLETON.

BINDER FOR TABLETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1912.

1,071,562, Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

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l5 8 5 b1; f n :=:::-.".::::::::::ei|flliifigu" INVENTOR A tlomey DAVIDA. MIDDLETON, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA.

BINDER FOR TABLETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Application filed March 19, 1912. Serial No. 684,865.

To all whom, it may concern: 7

'Be it known that I, DAVID A. MIDDLETON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass, State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders for Tablets; andI do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to 'which it pertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in binders'for tablets and moreespecially for use with tablets composed of loose leaves.

It has for its object to provide a binder in which a single sheet ofpaper or a number of sheets of paper will always lie flat and enable theentire surface to be written upon.

It also has for its object to provide a binder with means by which thesheets ofpaper may be reversed and both sides used to write upon.

It further has for its objectto provide a binder which can be convertedfrom a two cover or double board binder into a single cover or boardbinder.

It further has for its object to provide a binder which is simple,inexpensive and durable in construction, easy to manipulate and veryattractive in appearance.

It further has for its objectto provide a binder in which it is possibleto remove the top sheet without disturbing the other sheets.

It still further has for its object to pro-' vide a binder in which thesheets of paper are held securely in position and at the same time arecapable of being moved easily and quickly which is especially desirablewhen being used by stenographers or other rapid writers.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan View of the binderwith one portion of the cover thrown back and the sheets of paperexposed ready for use. Fig. 2 a side view with the cover closed. Fig. 8a sectional view. on the line w00 of Fig. l, on an enlarged scale. Fig.4 a sectional view on the line z g of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig.5 a detail perspective view of the pivoted member of the binder. Fig. 6a detail bottom plan view of the base plate of the binder. Fig. 7 adetail viewv of the spacing plate.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference denote like partsthroughout the several views; 1 represents the cover of the binder whichcomprises upper and lower portions 2 and 3 respectively, and a backportion 4. The back portion of the cover is hinged to the upper andlower portions by means of hinges made of cloth or other suitablematerial. The base plate 5 of the binder is secured to the back of thecover by metal eyelets 6. The upper edge of the base plate 5 is turnedunder the said plate and forms a flange 7 extending preferably theentire length of the plate, and recesses 8 are formed in the upper edgeof the base plate. The lower edge S of the base plate 5 is cutaway at 9at each end and bent under said plate to form a flange 10.

The pivoted member 11 of the binder is made of resilient spring wire,preferably in one piece, and comprises a middle portion 12, which ispivoted in the flange 10 on the lower edge of the base plate 5, andarched portions 13 at each end of the middle portion, each of saidarched portions being provided with a rearwardly extending lug 14designed to pass through the recesses 8 of the base plate, this actionbeing permitted by reason of the spring action of the pivoted member 11.The flange 7 serves as an abutment for the lugs 14 of the arches 18. Byhaving the lugs 14 of the arched portions fastened below the uppersurface of the base plate all obstructions or projections are eliminatedand in consequence the leaves of the tablet will always lie perfectlyflat at all times.

A plate 15 is provided between the back of the binder and the undersurface of the base plate which is seated in the flanges 7 and 10 andserves to reinforce the base plate and also space it from the back ofthe binder, said plate being provided with notches 16 in its upper edgefor the purpose of allowing sufficient space for the operation of thelugs of the pivoted member. The lower edge 17 of the plate 15 serves toretain the middle portion of the pivoted member in place in the flange10. The eyelets 6 also pass through the plate 15 and hold it securely inplace. The leaves 18 of the tablet are provided with suitableperforations 19 to receive the arched portions of the pivoted member.

Then it is desired to convert the binder into a single board binder theupper portion 2 of the cover can be turned backward on its hinge andcaused to lie flat against the under surface of the lower portion 3 ofthe cover. To insert the leaves of the tablet in the binder the archedportions 13 are pulled upward until the lugs 14 are released from therecesses 8 of the base plate 5, the pivoted member is then turneddownward on its pivot and the arched portions are inserted in theperforations 19 of the leaves of the binder, then the arched portionsare turned upward and downward and passed through the recesses S andsprung under the plate 5 when the tablet is ready for use.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specificdetails of constructions and arrangement as herein described andillustrated, as it is manifest that varia tions and modifications may bemade in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptationof the device to various conditions of use without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention and imprrwements. I therefore reservethe right to all such variations and modifications as properly fallwithin the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a binder for tablets, a plate having flanges onopposite edges and recesses adjacent one edge, a backing for said plate,a spring binding member pivotally mounted between the plate and theflange on one of its edges and provided with arches having lugs adaptedto pass through said recesses and engage the flange on the other edge ofsaid plate and a plate interposed between the first mentioned plate andthe flanges thereof with its rear edge engaging the middle portion ofthe spring binding member and holding it between the plate and theflange and preventing lateral movement thereof, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a binder for tablets, a plate having flanges on opposite edges andrecesses extending through one edge, a backing for said plate, a springbinding member pivotally mounted between the plate and the flange on oneof its edges and provided with arches having inwardly extending lugsadapted to pass through said recesses and engage said plate and a plate,interposed between the first mentioned plate and the flanges thereof,having notches in which the lugs of the arches are received and one ofits edges engaging the middle portion of the pivoted member andpreventing lateral movement thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a binder for tablets, a plate having flanges on opposite edges andrecesses extending through one edge, above the flange thereof, andcut-away portions on the other edge, a backing for said plate, a springbinding member pivotally mounted between said plate and the flange onone of its edges and extending upward through said cut-away portions andprovided with arches having inwardly extending lugs adapted to passthrough said recesses, engage said plate and abut against the flangebelow said recesses and a plate interposed between the first mentionedplate and the flanges thereof one of its edges engaging the middleportion of the binding member and preventing lateral movement thereof,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID A. MIDDLETON.

\Vitnesses MARY A. WVnLon, F. D. MoCULLoUcH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

